Through the Dust
A Magazine for CRWRC
Champions & Deacons
Autumn 2011
CRWRC Champions
If you have a heart for the poor, a commitment to CRWRC, and an interest in helping others see the benefits that arise when they share their blessings with others, then you are a prime candidate to become a CRWRC Champion. CRWRC depends on the time, talent, and connections of people like you to spread the news of its ministry and opportunities across North America. Read on to find out more.
- What is involved in being a CRWRC Champion?
- What resources are available to support CRWRC Champions?
- What are some examples of CRWRC Champions in action?
- Who should I contact if I want to find out more?
What is involved in being a CRWRC Champion?
Most CRWRC Champions are members of a Christian Reformed Church. Their primary responsibility is to promote CRWRC within that church and to encourage members of the congregation to get involved in CRWRC's ministry. If you are not a member of a CRC, but would still like to be a champion, CRWRC could also use your gifts to spread the word about its ministry to your high school, college, church, or community. Contact us to find out more.
As a Champion you might be asked to:
- Build a relationship with the deacons of your congregation, and the CRWRC board member in your classis.
- Encourage your church to commit to a partnership with a CRWRC missionary staff person - supporting them through prayer, letters, cards and financial gifts. Each church that supports a missionary will receive prayer magnets, a staff profile, and regular newsletters from the missionary they support. As a Champion, please ensure that these materials are distributed to people at your church.
- Host a CRWRC missionary or missionary family when they are in North America. CRWRC staff regularly return to North America to visit churches and schools and make presentations about their work. As a champion you could make contacts with people in your community to maximize opportunities for the missionary to do presentations and meet people (for example: before, during or after a church service; a pot-luck or social; at an adult education class; Sunday School; Coffee Break; a local Christian elementary or high school). CRWRC's Missionary Partner Program staff would coordinate this with you.
- Encourage deacons to schedule at least 4 offerings for CRWRC each year. This is the number of offerings that the Christian Reformed Church Synod has recommended for CRC's to have in support of CRWRC. CRWRC will provide bulletin inserts, bulletin announcements, and other support materials. As a Champion, please ensure that your deacons are aware of upcoming offerings, and that the materials are available.
- Ensure that CRWRC materials are attractively displayed, distributed, and available at your church
- Encourage your church to fully participate in the World Hunger Campaign. This could include a special offering, participation by the Sunday School, a World Hunger service, and more.
- Make people aware of new resources that become available. For example, you could tell the Sunday School Superintendent about the lastest Children’s Giving Project, tell youth leaders about FastForward (a 24-hour fast for world hunger), or tell deacons about CRWRC's annual gift catalog.
- Contact the CRWRC board delegate in your classis for advice and support as appropriate
- Do presentations to your congregation, deacons, or other groups to explain the work of CRWRC and encourage full support.
- Share upcoming volunteer opportunities with people in your congregation and encourage them to get involved.
- Attend an annual get-together of CRWRC Champions hosted by the CRWRC board delegate in your region.
What resources are available to support CRWRC Champions?
CRWRC staff will work hard to give you the resources and support that you need to enjoy your work as a CRWRC Champion and make it effective. This will include:
- a monthly newsletter called the Champions Ring
- copies of the latest CRWRC brochures, resources, and promotional materials
- stories of other CRWRC Champions "in action"
In addition, CRWRC has many resources available on this website (membership required) to help you make presentations and educate others about issues of global poverty, hunger, AIDS, and injustice. To become a member please contact Maria Oliveira at moliveira@crwrc.org (Canada) or Wendy Hammond at whammond@crwrc.org (US).
Instructions for logging in to the Champ's website
Who should I contact if I want to find out more?
In Canada, please contact:
Maria Oliveira
3475 Mainway
Burlington, ON L7P 3Y8
1-800-730-3490 x319
In the US, please see below for details and how to apply:
Click here to submit a short volunteer profile and to be contacted to talk further about this opportunity.
For any other questions in the US, please contact:
Wendy Hammond